Resources Glossary

This is a comprehensive resource guide to terms used in this website, including grips and grasps, task analysis designations, weights and measures, fundamental kitchen equipment, shopping and time saving strategies, and basic cooking definitions. Grips and Grasps These grips and grasps, or prehension, are frequently referred to in the lesson guides and are important to understand because they transfer from cooking skills to academic and other fine motor skills, such as writing. Manipulative grasps vary based upon the size, shape, and weight of the object held, how that object will be used, and the sensory feedback received. The two types of prehension are power grips and precision grips, and the activity determines which grip ought to be used.

Power grip: Power grips are used when an object needs to be forcefully held and involves a significant amount of force. Typically, the fingers flex around the object in one direction and the thumb in the other, providing a counter force which keeps the object firmly set in the hand. Three major power grips are the cylindrical grip, spherical grip, and hook grip. A cylindrical grip has all fingers flexed around the object, which lies at a right angle to the forearm. The thumb is wrapped around the object in the opposite direction. This grip is used while holding a hammer, wheelbarrow, etc. A variation on the cylindrical grip could be used on a golf club or screwdriver. A spherical griphas all fingers and thumbs abducted around an object, and the fingers are more spread apart than in a cylindrical grip. The palm of the hand is not always touching the object. Holding an apple or a doorknob involves a spherical grip, as does picking up a glass or unscrewing a jar. A hook griphas fingers two through five flexed around an object in a hooklike manner. The thumb in usually not involved, so this is the only power group possible if a person has no ability to oppose the thumb. This grip is used when holding onto a handle, such as a suitcase or bucket.

Precision grip: Precision grips hold the object between the tips of the fingers and thumb, providing fine movement and accuracy. The object is typically small, and the palm not involved. Two main types of precision grips are the tripod grasp and the lumbrical (plate) grip. A pinch grip involves the thumb and one finger, usually the index finger. It is used to manipulate very small objects with a high degree of accuracy. A modification is the tripod grasp, which is also known as the three-jaw chuck grip. It involves the thumb and two fingers, usually the index and middle fingers. It is used to hold a pen or pencil and is the most common precision grip. The lumbrical grip has the thumb opposing the fingers to hold an object horizontally. It is commonly used in cooking, to hold an object such as a plate or a tray. Visual input from the eyes and sensory input from the hand must be coordinated to keep the object from spilling its contents. Having practice and confidence with the plate grip is very helpful in every day life, from passing sides at dinner to carrying a tray at lunch time.

For more information about grips and grasps, check out Clinical Kinesiology for Physical Therapist Assistants by Lynn S. Lippert which is available here.

Task Analysis DesignationsTask Analysis DesignationsThese terms are often utilized in deciding the difficulty level of a recipe or skill set. They are modified from Task Analysis: An Occupational Performance Approach by Diane E. Watson which can be found here.

Activities of Daily Living: with regard to feeding and eating, includes setting up food, selecting and using appropriate utensils and tableware, bring food or drink to mouth, cleaning face, hands, and clothing, chewing and swallowing, and management of alternative methods of nourishment.

Vocational, Productive, and Leisure Activities: Vocational activities are participating in work-related activities, which are strengthened by determining aptitudes, developing interests and skills, and selecting appropriate vocational pursuits. Play or leisure performance includes identifying interests, skills, opportunities, and appropriate activities, as well as maintaining a balance of play or leisure activities with work and productive activities and daily living.

Sensorimotor Performance Components: are the ability to receive input, process information, and produce output. Sensory awareness is receiving and differentiating sensory stimuli, while processing is interpreting the stimuli. Tactile interpretation includes light touch, pressure, temperature, pain, and vibration. Proprioceptive is stimuli originating in muscles, joints, and internal tissues. Vestibular is interpreting stimuli from inner ear receptors about head position and movement. Visual is stimuli from the eyes, including peripheral vision and acuity and awareness of color. Auditory involves distinguishing between background sounds and localizing sounds, gustatory interpreting tastes, and olfactory interpreting odors.

Perceptual Processing: is organizing sensory input into meaningful patterns. Stereognosis is identifying objects through proprioception, cognition, and the sense of touch, and kinesthesia is identifying joint movement. Right-left discrimination is differentiating one side from the other, form constancy is recognizing forms and objects as the same in various environments, positions, and sizes, and spatial relationsis determining the positions of objects relative to each other.

Neuromusculoskeletal and Motor Coordination: include reflex, range of motion, strength, etc. Gross coordination is using large muscle groups for goal-directed movements, laterality is using a preferred unilateral body part for activities requiring a high level of skill, bilateral integration is coordinating both body sides during activity, praxis is planning a new motor act in response to an environmental demand, and visual-motor integration is coordinating the interaction of visual information from the eyes with body movement.

Various Psychosocial Skills: interacting in society and processing emotions are imperative while cooking in a kitchen setting. Examples could involve personal interests, role performance, social conduct, interpersonal skills, self-expression, coping skills, time management, and self-control.

Fundamental Kitchen EquipmentThis is a list of pans, gadgets, and bakeware that a well-stocked kitchen should include, from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. Accordingly, it will vary based on need, recipes to be cooked, and ability. Check out this articleabout adaptive cooking tools for more ideas.

Preparation and Cooking Gadgets:

Bottle opener

Can opener, preferably one that leaves smooth edges

Chef's knife or plastic lettuce knife

Clear liquid measuring cup, with large labels or angled top

Colanders, over the sink or expandable

Grader/shredder, with enclosed blades

Kitchen scissors or shears

Kitchen timer

Ladle

Thermometer

Pancake turner, spring-loaded tong type

Paring knife or peeler

Pasta server

Plastic cutting board, with plastic grips

Rolling pin

Rubber spatulas

Set of dry measuring cups

Set of measuring spoons

Set of mixing bows, with handles or grips

Slotted spoon

Tongs

Wire cooling rack

Wooden spoons

Range-Top Cookware

4 or 6-quart covered pot or kettle

1-quart covered saucepan

2-quart covered saucepan

3-quart covered saucepan

6 or 8-inch skillet

10-inch ovenproof skillet with cover

12-inch skillet

Nonstick skillet

Bakeware

2-quart rectangular baking dish

3-quart rectangular baking dish

2-quart square baking dish

9x9x2-inch baking pan

15x10x1-inch baking pan

8x1.5-inch round baking pan

9x1.5-inch round baking pan

Baking sheet

Deep dish casserole

Custard cups

Muffin pan

9-inch pie plate

Pizza pan

Roasting pan with rack

Shopping and Time-saving StrategiesTaking individuals with disabilities on a trip to the grocery store may seem like a daunting task, but grocery shopping is an important activity of daily life. A successful shopping trip can help build confidence, independence, and a greater understanding of the connection between raw ingredients and a finished, edible product. Here are some tips for stress-free grocery shopping:

Organize a list of items needed before heading to the store

Practice planning menus for multiple meals, deciding how many people will eat each meal